Our Pastor
Pastor Roger Collins has pastored Iola Baptist Temple now for 20 years. Before taking the pastorate here, he was in full-time ministry for fourteen years in Texas and in Colorodo where he worked in other various positions including youth pastor, song director, and assistant pastor.
Before going into full-time ministry, he served faithfully in ministry in Wichita, Kansas, and Ft. Scott, Kansas. Basically, Pastor Collins has been "in the ministry" his whole life. He grew up in a pastor's home. His father, A.F. Collins, pastored in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Ft. Scott, Kansas. After marrying Mary Collins, daughter of missionary Ross Fite, they ministered at churches in Sterling, Colorado and in Austin, Texas.
The Collins have raised three daughters: Valerie Randall (currently serving with her husband on staff here), Monica Buffington (currently serving with her husband on staff at Heartland Baptist Bible College located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and serving at Southwest Baptist Church), and Apryl Haynes (actively involved in missionary endeavors in closed countries of the 10/40 Window).
Before going into full-time ministry, he served faithfully in ministry in Wichita, Kansas, and Ft. Scott, Kansas. Basically, Pastor Collins has been "in the ministry" his whole life. He grew up in a pastor's home. His father, A.F. Collins, pastored in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Ft. Scott, Kansas. After marrying Mary Collins, daughter of missionary Ross Fite, they ministered at churches in Sterling, Colorado and in Austin, Texas.
The Collins have raised three daughters: Valerie Randall (currently serving with her husband on staff here), Monica Buffington (currently serving with her husband on staff at Heartland Baptist Bible College located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and serving at Southwest Baptist Church), and Apryl Haynes (actively involved in missionary endeavors in closed countries of the 10/40 Window).
In May, Bro. Rocky Randall will be the new pastor at Iola Baptist Temple. With his wife Valerie, and three children (Zachary, Cherise, and Braeden), Bro. Rocky has served as assistant to the pastor for the last seven years. The Lord began to move in Bro. Rocky's life in a major way at the end of 2017, and after a year of thinking God would be moving him and his family elsewhere, it was confirmed that God's place for him and his family was right here. With a new burden for the people in this community, as well as all Southeast Kansas, the Randall's are excited to take on the responsibility of leading this church upon the retirement of Pastor Collins.
Before moving to Iola, Kansas in 2010, Bro. Rocky attended Heartland Baptist Bible college, serving in various ministries at Southwest Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Before moving to OKC, the Randall's were in Springfield, MO where Bro. Rocky attended Baptist Bible College while serving in various ministries at South Campbell Avenue Baptist Church. Before college (and marriage), both Bro. Rocky and Mrs. Valerie helped in their churches where their dads were their pastors at the time.
"Most of the knowledge and experience that I've gained (at least what has stuck) was gained from the service I was allowed to serve in the local churches where I was a member during my 'Bible College days.' I honestly wasn't a great student in school, but was very sold out to my churches and great men of God who led them. I'm super thankful for those men and what I learned from them (from both observation and instruction)."
Before moving to Iola, Kansas in 2010, Bro. Rocky attended Heartland Baptist Bible college, serving in various ministries at Southwest Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Before moving to OKC, the Randall's were in Springfield, MO where Bro. Rocky attended Baptist Bible College while serving in various ministries at South Campbell Avenue Baptist Church. Before college (and marriage), both Bro. Rocky and Mrs. Valerie helped in their churches where their dads were their pastors at the time.
"Most of the knowledge and experience that I've gained (at least what has stuck) was gained from the service I was allowed to serve in the local churches where I was a member during my 'Bible College days.' I honestly wasn't a great student in school, but was very sold out to my churches and great men of God who led them. I'm super thankful for those men and what I learned from them (from both observation and instruction)."
